DOC HOME SITE MAP MAN PAGES GNU INFO SEARCH
 

forward(F)


forward -- Mail forwarding file

Description

While MMDF is working on delivering a message, it (submit) looks in the user's home directory to see if they have a .forward file. If this file exists, is owned by either the user or an MMDF ``privileged'' user, and is publicly readable then its contents are treated as an alias and used to send the mail to the specified address(es).

The format of alias values is described in tables(F). MMDF acts as if the alias were:

       user: contents-of-file

Notes

There is a ``magic'' address (@@) which is like any other bad address except that if it occurs in a .forward file or alias no complaint to supportaddr is issued. This can be used to prevent mail from being accepted for certain users, similar to aliasing such users to a nonexistent address but without the notification that is generated every time a true bad address is referenced. An alias to @@ can itself be used in aliases without generating warning mail, so that an alias like this can be set up:
   @@: nosuchuser
This way the less cryptic address nosuchuser can be used in aliases and .forward files.

Files

$HOME/.forward

See also

rcvtrip(C), resend(C), maildelivery(F), tables(F)

Standards conformance

MMDF is not part of any currently supported standard; it was developed at the University of Delaware and is used with permission.
© 2004 The SCO Group, Inc. All rights reserved.